Priming means for centrifugal pumps



April 15, 1930. Q HAENTJENS 1,755,000

PRIMING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS Filed March 16, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR OTTO HAE NTJE NS 5 hz's (Li-207 212315 April 15, 1930. o. HAENTJENS 1,755,000

7 PRIMING MEANS FOR CENTRIFUGAL PUMPS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 16, 1929 Z6 AYAVM/ I INVENTOR OTTO HAENTJE NS Patented Apr. 15, 1930 d UNITED STATES or'ro HAENTJENS, or EAZLETON, PENNSYLVANIA rnrmne MEANS non CENTRIFUGAL ruiurs The present improvements in priming means for centrifugal pumps are more particularly valuable in connection withisuch pumps intended for the pumping of sewage and other thickened fluids, which would be apt to clog-up forms of priming means designed for pumps to pump thinner fluids.

In the accompanying drawings: Fig. 1 is a vertical section through my improved priming means;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan on the line A--A of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a sectional plan on the line B-B, Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic plan of the several parts of a pumping system illustrating the application of my improvements;

Fig. 5 is a diagram of electrical wiring to be used when it is desired to work the system automatically.

In my Patent 1,513,705, October 28, 1924,

I have illustrated a pump -system, embracing a centrifugal pump, and associated priming pump and means for automatically priming the centrifugal, and for shuttingoffthe priming pump when the centrifugal has been primed. v

In the diagram, Fig. 4 herewith, corresponding parts are indicated, the centrifugal 17 having a suction pipe 16 to pump sewage or the like from a sump, while a priming pump 19 has a conduit 21 connecting the priming pump to the upper part of the centrifugal through a float chamber 24 corre-.

sponding to some extent incharacter of operation to the float chamber 24 of the apparatus of my said patent. The preferred'construction of this float chamber 24 and its as- 40 asociated parts is shown on alarger scale in Figs. 1, 2 and 3.

This float chamber 24 is mounted upon a conical chamber 1, and between the interiors of the two chambers is a transverse flexible diaphragm 8, which is secured at its.margin by a clamping ring 11 to a series ofdownward projections 12 on the underside of-the flaring petticoat 2 of the upper chamber casing 24, in such a way that there is a connecting pas- 0 sage all around the margin of the diaphragm Application filed March 16, 1929. Serial No. 347,659.

between the chamber 24 and the chamber 1 below. f

The flexible diaphragm 8 carries a float 7, which conveniently may be of wood and which when the apparatus is not in operation rests upon projections 9 on the inside of the casing 1.

The casing of the chamber 1 rests upon, and communicates with, the interior of the upper part of the casing ofthe centrifugal I 17. I prefer to arrange thepassa'ge 3 between the chamber 1 and the centrifu al on an incline towards/the direction in w ich the moving part'of the centrifugal rotates, as shown in Fig. 1. I

At the lower part of the casing 24 I provide an annular channel 4=with a supply pipe 13 for clear water. The underside of this annular channel lies over the diaphragm and ad'acent to it and has openings 5 to discharge ow of clear water into the chamber over the diaphragm 8.

In the chamber 24 is a float 48 mounted on a pivoted arm 47, as in the case of my above mentioned Patent 1,513,705, this arm being arranged to actuate an air vent valve 52, and to control also an electric switch 34, in the manner set forth in my said patent, when the apparatus is to be electrically controlled automatically.

When the priming pump 19 (Fig. 4) is started, clean water under pressure is allowed to flow out of the openings 5 and down the walls and over the edge of the diaphragm and down the inner walls of the chamber 1, thereby washing back into the pump any sediment which may have deposited itself on the chamber walls or in any place where it might clog the diaphragm valve. At the same time air isdrawn through the conduit 21, including the chambers 1 and 24 to the priming pump.

When the centrifugal pump is primed, the sewa e will enter the chamber 1, raising the float and with it the diaphragm 8 until the latter contacts with the under side of the annular chamber 4, and acting as a valveshuts off the passage of sewage to the chamber 24. The diaphragm 8 partially closes the openings 5 thus checking the flushing. Some clean water can cpntinue to flow and will rise the chamber 24 and raise the float 48 sufliciently to close the switch 34 and to open the air vent valve 52. The engagement of the diaphragm with the annular curved surface through which the holes 5 are formed together wlth the opening of the air valve 7 52 prevent further rise of the sewage in the chamber 1. When the centrifugal pump stops,,the fluid in the chambers 24 and 1 drains into the casing of the pump 17 and consequently the flo'at 7 falls so that thereupon the holes 5 of the water ring 4 are uncovered again and clean water will flow over the diaphragm again and down the inner Walls of the chamber 1, cleaning the apparatus and making it ready for another start.

At the same time that the float 7 falls the float 48 also moves downward and opens the switch 34 and closes the air valve 52.

The sewage never enters the chamber 24 of the priming system so that there is no danfger of that part becoming clo ged.

The diaphragm valve 8 whic is an effective means of separating the priming pump from the centrifugal will not be apt to stick to the under surface of the ring 4 because the diaphragnr is peeled off the rounded under side of the ring, as it were. Furthermore, the water issuing from the openings 5 also tends to push the diaphragm off its seat.

Clean water may be supplied from an elevated tank or from a pressure line. When it is desired that the installation shall be under manual control the arrangement illustrated in the diagram, F ig. 4, may be employed.

4 v This includes an overhead tank 31 with a float valve 37 on the water supply line 36 and-a hand-controlled valve at 30 inthe plping leading from the tank 31 to the chamber 24. .When the pumpis primed, the air valve 52 .opens, giving t e operator a signal to start the centrifugal pump 17, stop the priming pump 19 and close the water valve 30. When the centrifu al pump stops, the chamber 1 drains and the unit is ready for a new start. Water is fed to the tank 31 from the supply line 36 which is to be opened and closed by the float valve 37. The piping may be so proportioned that after the operator opens the valve 30 the tank 31 will empty quickly through the valve 30 so as to flush the system but after that only a small quantity of water suflicient to seal the priming will continue to flow at the rate determined by the supply bus 36.

i If it is desired to have the system operate automatically I may adapt for the purpose an electrical system of a character somewhat similar to that described in my' Patent 1,513,705. In Fig. 5 I have illustrated diagrammatically a system of electric wiring for this purpose. In this instance the valve 30 heretofore mentioned is to be operated by electrical means.-

The pumping will be controlled by afloat 25 in the sump (Fig. 4), this float controlling 'a switch 26 (Figs. 4 and 5). The closing of pump 19 through the starter 44 (Fig. 5).

The belated start permits a thorough flushing of the chamber 24. When the centrifugal pump has been primed a contact 45 (Fig. 5)

of the priming switch 34 (Fig. 1) closes and starts the electric motor of the centrifugal pump 17 through the starter 46 (Fig. 5). At the same time current is sent through a relay 47, so as to open the contacts 48 and 49 to shut down the electric motor of the priming pump 17, to close the valve 30, and to reset the time relay 42.

However, I do not restrict myself to any particular arrangement of circuits or means for automatically controlling the starting and stopping of the parts of this system. My present invention has more particular reference to the construction of the mechanism which, by way of example, is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. I do not however restrict myself to the particular details of the construction there illustrated, as this may be varied.

For example, the fresh water supply may in some cases be dispensed with, by arranging the float 7 to lift the diaphragm 8 against the annular seat at 5, before the sewage liquid can rise into the upper chamber, and with the rise of the diaphragm 8 to lift also, the float 48 and its lever to stop the priming pump and start the centrifugal pump.

I claim as my invention 1. A priming appliance for pumping systems having a centrifugal pump, said appliance comprising a casing with a chamber connected therewith having a float and a diaphragm connected to the float, a second chamber above said diaphragm and in communication with the priming pump, said upper chamber having means for supplying water thereto and being in communication with the first mentioned chamber around the rim of the diaphragm.

2. A centrifugal pump in combination with a chamber communicating with the pump casing to receive fluid therefrom incident to priming of the pump, a valve for closing the upper part of said chamber upon flow of liquid thereto from the pump casing,'and means for flushing said chamber in the region of said valve prior to the said flow of liquid to the chamber.

3. A'centrifugal pump incombination with a chamber communicating with the pump casing. to receive fluid therefrom incident to priming of the pump, a valve for closin the upper part of said chamber upon flow 0% liq- 111d thereto from the pump casing, and means 20 inlet means controlled by said diaphragm so for flushing said chamber in the re 'on of the valve said means being controlled y said valve to check the flushing upon closing of the valve. q

4. A centrifugal pump, a suction chamber in a priming conduit communicating therewith, a valve for closing said chamber upon flow of liquid thereto from the said pump, means for venting the conduit beyond the valve and means for flushing said conduit in the region of the valve, said valve being adapted to check said flushing upon closing to cause the flushing fluid to operate said venting means.

5. A centrifugal pump, a chamber, a suction priming conduit communicating therewith, a float-operated diaphragm valve for closing said chamber upon flow of liquid thereto from the said pump, a vent valve operated by a float above said diaphragm, liquid as to permit flushing of said chamber in the region of the valve and to check the flushin upon closing of the valve whereby the liqui from said inletrises above the diaphragm to operate said vent.

6. In combination, a centrifugal pump, a

priming pump and connection to said centrifugal pump, a valve for closing said priming connection upon flow of liquid thereto fromthe pump, means for flushing said connection in the region of the. valve and automatic means to set said flushing means in operation andthereafter to start said priming 7. In combination, a centrifugal pump, a primin pump and connection to said centrifuga pump, a' valve for closing said prim conduit connection to a priming pump, a

chamber in said conduit and a diaphragm float valve therein, adapted to close on rise of name to this specification. V

' OTTO I-IAENTJENS.

- ing connection upon flow of'liquid thereto from the pump, means for flushing said connection in the region of the valve. and auto- 'matic means for controlling said flushing means and said priming pump to efiect flushilg before priming and to halt both therea ter.

- 8. A centrifugal pump providedwith a conduit connection to a priming pump, a chamber in said conduit and a float valve therein 'n combination with means for fiushconduit connectlon to a priming pump, a

chamber in said conduit and a diaphra valve therein in combination with means or I conduit connection to a priming pump, a

chamber in said conduit and a float-controlled diaphragm therein in combination with an annular channel against which' the diaphra may set and which has discharge outlets t erein and means for water to the annular channel.

11. A centrifugal pump provided with a.

supplying flush 

